Careers in the NHS

Allied health professionals make up the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS. They work across a range of sectors from emergency response and diagnosis to mental and physical rehabilitation.

Dietitian
Dietitians translate the science of nutrition into everyday information about food and advise people on their food and nutrition choices.

Imaging Assistant
As an imaging or radiography assistant, you'll work closely with diagnostic radiographers who use imaging to work out which disease or condition is causing a patient’s illness and/or therapeutic radiographers who use doses of x-rays and other ionising radiation to treat medical conditions, such as cancer and tumours.

Occupational Therapist
As an occupational therapist, you’ll help people who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions.

Operating Department Practitioner
Operating department practitioners play a major role in each phase of a person’s operation.  You’ll provide high standards of skilled care and support during each phase of a patient’s perioperative care - anaesthetic, surgery and recovery.

Radiographer
Radiography is one of the most innovative aspects of healthcare – you’ll use advanced technology to look inside patients’ bodies and understand the root causes of their illness, and consult with colleagues on diagnosis and treatment plans.

Doctors work in all areas of health care providing you with endless career possibilities.

Associate Specialist, Ophthalmology, Macular Degeneration Clinic
Ophthalmologists diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of the eyes and visual system.  Ophthalmology practice is very diverse, dealing with a variety of issues and clinical conditions.

Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychology deals with a wide range of mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues.

Consultant Microbiologist & Head of Service
Medical microbiologists provide services to aid the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases and help ensure the safety of those at risk of acquiring infectious diseases, both in hospitals and the community.

Consultant Physician & Nephrologist
Nephrologists (doctors in renal medicine) diagnose and treat diseases of the kidneys.

Paediatric Speciality Doctor
Paediatrics is the area of medicine that manages medical conditions affecting infants, children and young people.

GP Trainee
During training, General Practitioners (GPs) spend time in hospitals on a four month rotation. A GO Trainee talks about a typical day in the hospital.

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Healthcare science staff play a vital role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a huge number of medical conditions. They also help people live independent lives through rehabilitation.

Clinical Illustration
The Clinical Illustration Team includes medical photographers, graphic designers and healthcare scientists. They provide medical and ophthalmic photography and videography for in-patients and out-patients. They also offer services in printing, graphic design, animation, illustration, videography and general photography.

Cardiac Physiologist
The Lead Cardiac Physiologist talks about his role supporting patients with heart problems using electrocardiograms (ECGs), Echocardiograms, Pacemakers and Stents.

Cardiac Physiologist
Cardiac physiologists assess patients with heart problems using ultrasound scanners. They carry out a range of diagnostic investigations and offer expert advice to doctors.

Chief Cardiac Physiologist
Chief Cardiac Physiologists perform non-invasive cardiac investigations and provide expert advice on findings. They liaise with cardiology doctors as and when necessary.

Pathology
Pathology provides an understanding of the process of disease. A pathology career offers a great range of variety and combines clinical and laboratory work and offers scope for excellent opportunities within research."

Sterile Services
Staff working in sterile services are responsible for ensuring that reusable medical devices, such as endoscopes and other surgical devices eg instruments and equipment are cleaned, sterilized and repackaged to high standards, ready for reusing in operating theatres and other areas of health care.

Health informatics involves the use of information and technology to provide better care for patients.

Digital Training & Development Manager
Digital training & development managers oversee training programmes and training teams to deliver clinical IT training and support to staff. Click here for more information

Junior Solutions Developer
Solutions developers help to design, develop, support and maintain healthcare systems including bespoke web-based and mobile applications.

Library & Knowledge Services Manager
Library and knowledge service staff make sure crucial evidence and information is available and accessible when and where NHS staff need to use it. Their work supports decisions about patient treatments and care, funding, policy, research and innovation.

Midwives support women during all stages of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.

Head of Women and Children's Division
The Head of the Women and Children's Division talks about how the maternity unit has worked hard to be rated for outstanding care from the Care Quality Commission.

Maternity Services
Maternity Services provide antenatal and postnatal care to women and their babies.

You can train in adult, child, learning disability or mental health nursing before being able to take further training and becoming a specialist.

Acute Cancer Services
Nurses in Acute Cancer Services support cancer patients who attend as an emergency admission due to cancer related or treatment related complications.

Cardiac Nurse
As a Cardiac Nurse you will have the opportunity to provide specialist care to patients with a variety of cardiac conditions.

Children’s Assessment Unit
A Children’s Assessment Unit is an emergency assessment unit for children and young people where they can referred by their GP, Midwife, Health Visitor, Urgent Care Centre and/or the Emergency Department."

Dementia Nurse Specialist
Dementia Nurses provide comprehensive support to patients living with dementia and their carers.

Department Leader, Pre-operative Assessment, Haematuria Clinic
The Haematuria Clinic provides tests and assessment for patients with blood in the urine.

Emergency Department
Staff in the Emergency Department treat life-threatening conditions that need immediate medical attention including persistent severe chest pain, loss of consciousness, acute confused state, severe blood loss, serious burns or suspected stroke.

Epilepsy Specialist Nurse
Epilepsy Nurses specialise in supporting individuals, and their families, who are prone to recurrent epileptic seizures – abnormal movement or behaviour which is the direct result of a change in the electrical activity of the brain.

Falls Prevention Lead Specialist Nurse
Falls Prevention Nurses help to identify and reduce potential falls risk, keeping patients safe and educating staff.

Learning Disabilities Nurse
Learning Disabilities Nurses help to support patients with complex learning disabilities and educate staff on treating these patients.

Medical Education Nurses
Medical Education Nurses support medical students to become doctors through teaching clinical skills, communication skills and professional ethics.

Stroke Services
Staff in Stroke Services care for patients who have had an acute stroke and provide rehabilitation following initial treatment.

Children’s & Young People’s Emergency Department
The Children’s and Young People’s Emergency Department is separate to the adults’ Emergency Department. Hear more about what facilities we have in the department to keep children and young people occupied.

Ward Sister, Day Case Unit
Day Case staff work closely with physiotherapists and specialist nurses within the surgical specialities to ensure the provision of follow-up care to enable patients to be discharged safely after their procedure.

Advanced Clinical Practitioner/Corporate Lead for Advanced Practice
Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) are experienced healthcare professionals with a Masters level award or equivalent who have developed their skills and knowledge to enable them to work as part of the medical team.

Head of Nursing,  Urgent & Emergency Care
The Corporate Head of Nursing talks about his role in managing winter plans and supporting staff during COVID-19.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Emergency Surgery
A Clinical Nurse Specialist talks about a typical day in Emergency Surgery and her career progression.

A pharmacy is where medicines are stored, prepared and dispensed.

Deputy Pharmacy Stores Manager
Deputy Pharmacy Stores Managers will stock take and deal with the procurement, receipt and distribution of stock.

Dispensary Manager
The Dispensary Manager will oversee and manage, with their team, all associated operational activities in a pharmacy.

Pharmacist Band 6
Pharmacists can advise patients on how to take medicines and recommend the best medicine for particular conditions and diseases.

Pharmacy Assistant
Pharmacy assistants help pharmacists order, prepare and dispense medicines.

Senior Technician Education and Training/Medicines Management Technician
Pharmacy technicians are senior members of the pharmacy team who manage and prepare the supply of medicines and give advice to patients and customers.

Specialist Pharmacist Acute Medicine and Training
The role of a Specialist Pharmacist Acute Medicine and Training is part clinical based and part education and training, ensuring that patients receive safe medicines.

The Wider Healthcare Team includes a variety of roles including clinical and non-clinical support, corporate, domestic, estates and other support services.

Director of Culture & Improvement
The Director of Culture & Improvement talks about her progression in the NHS and the many career opportunities available.

Assistant HR Business Partner Emergency Care & Medicine
In HR you may have responsibility for recruitment, selection, appraisal, staff development and training, understanding and implementing employment legislation and staff welfare.

Deputy Resuscitation Services Manager
A Deputy Resuscitation Services Manager will manage a wide range of resuscitation and trauma training designed to equip staff to recognise and manage the deteriorating and critically ill patient.

Learning & Development Team Leader & Health Ambassador
The Learning & Development Team offer training to develop existing staff’s careers including apprenticeships and completion of the Care Certificate. NHS health ambassadors engage with local schools to talk about their roles, or participate in careers events and activities.

Rostering Services
Rostering Services provide temporary staff including bank agency staff and co-ordinate rotas to ensure the safe care of patients.

Trainer/Assessor and Health Ambassador
Assessors support staff to complete their training and qualifications, preparing learners for their final end point assessment. NHS health ambassadors engage with local schools to talk about their roles, or participate in careers events and activities.